Stabilizing device for airships



April 12, 1932. A. SCHWARZ STABILIZING DEVICE FOR AIRSHIPS Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALFRED SCHWARZ mv TO BY i ATTORNEY April 12, 1932. A. SCHWARZ 1,853,233 I STABILIZING DEVICE FOR AIRSHIPS Filed March 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALFRED 5 CHWARZ VENTOR BY MM ATTORN EY JUNIQ'AIQ'EDVSTATES Patented Apr; 12, '1932 PATENT OFFICE AICFRED' SGHWARZ, or UPPER. MONTGLAIR, new JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro WING AERONAUTICAL CORPORATION, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A GORPOBATION or DELAWARE 'STABILIZING DEVICE .FOR AIRSIdIIPS Application filed March 4,

This invention relates to airships and more particularly to a stabilizing device especially adapted for aeroplanes. I

In theoperation of aeroplanes, it often becomes essential-that the airship shall be staweight supportedby the wings to the undams aged side so'that'the tilting tendency above mentioned may beneutral'ized by a corresponding tilting tendency in the opposite direction caused by exoesseofweight on the undamagedside. Such cases have occurred and been recorded in which a member of the crew has taken position on the undamaged wing, andthus enabled a safe landing to be made.

" 1 It is accordingly a major purpose of the present invention toprovide a novel and improved arrangement of weight elements which may beshifted to one side or the other of a' neutralposition to overcome such lateral tilting tendency as hasbeen above described; I 4 1 In like manner it is sometimes necessary to shift weight fore and aft of theship to overcome pitching in one direction or the other, and itis accordingly a furtherobject of. the inventionto provide a novel and improved arrangement [of weight elements which; may be shifted, longitudinally of the shi ti still further object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel and improved form of device for.v longitudinally stabilizing an aeroplane or other;airship, the device emb dy s ment. v e V e v It'iis astillfurther object of the invention to provide novel and improved .means for stabilizing v an airship comprising novel weight shifting elements operable automatically bythepiI t of the ship from his seat in a novel weight shifting arrange- 1930. serial No. 433,088;

the cockpit. Further objects of the inventi on willibe hereinafter more fullyset forth. The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical aeroplaneembodying the present in vention which will be described in detail to enable othersto understand and use the same, but the invention is not considered restricted to the specific construction which has been shown inthe drawings, and reference istherefore had tothe claims for summaries of the essentials ofthe invention and for the novel features of construction and novel combinations of desired.

In the accompanying drawings likecharr. acters of reference indicate like several views, and t Figure 1 is a plan View of an aeroplane equipped with the present invention.

Figure '2 is a view in side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of one of the stabilizing weights, a portion of its supporting means and feed screw being also shown.

I Figure dis a detailview illustrating in end elevation the parts shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detail plan viewthereof I In the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed there is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically an aeroplane of conventional construction. I Extending transversely of the aeroplane, as for instance through the wings thereof,is provided a pair of rails 11,

parts for allof-which protection is parts in the g and extending longitudinally of the, fuselage I,

is a similar pair of rails 12. 7 These rails may be of any desired form and may be main-, tained in secure positionin any desired manner.

Between each pair. of rails is mounted a shiftable weight element of any desired character. 7 One preferable form of such weight element has been illustrated as comprising a motor base llsupporting a motor 15 of any desired reversible type. Preferably insulation 16 is providedto insulate the motor from the rails and the latter are in turn insulated,

as by the insulation 17 from their supports" 18 so that these rails may be used as conductors; I V I .v

Suitable controlling devices (not shown) gearing 21 adapted to drive a nut or the like 22 engaging the feed screw 13.

Under normal conditions these motors and their associated weight boxes are positioned in neutral positions on the transverse and longitudinal-centers of gravity or balance of theship. Should anything afli'ectthe stability'of the plane in either longitudinal or lateral direction'or in both, the control elements are operated to energize the respective motor andcause it to'move in such direction as to neutralize the disturbed stability by the shifting ofthe weight of the motor and the parts associated and moving therewith.

There hasthus been provided a simple and highly efiicient device of the kind described andfor the purpose specified whereby entire stability of an aeroplane or other airship either in a lateral or in a longitudinal directionmay-be had at all times.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without in any way departing from the principles involved. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention-to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such forms as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed is 1. In an airship having longitudinal and transverse-axes, a pair of electric conductive guide rails parallel to an axis, a motor of reversible type supported on said'rails and electrically connected thereto and'adapted to move therealong, and driving means operated by the motor to move the motor along the rails.

2. In an airship having longitudinal and transverse axes, a pair of guide rails parallel to an axis, a motor of reversible type supported on said rails-and adapted to move therealong, and driving means operated by themotor to move the saidmotor along the rails, said driving means including a fixed feedscrew supported parallel to said rails, a nut on sa idscrew movable with the motor,

and gearing conne'cting the motor and' nut.

"3 Inan airship having longitudinal and transverse axes, a pair of electric conductive rails parallel to an axis, a motor of reversible typesupported on said rails and electrically connected thereto and adapted to move therealong, a weight box carried by the motor, and driving means operated by the mot-or to move the said motor and weight box along the rails.

45. In an airship having longitudinal and transverse axes, a pair ofguiderails parallel to an axis, a motor of'reversible type supported. on said rails and adapted to travel therealong, a Weight box carried by the/mo.- tor,1and;drivingflmeans operated'by the motor to move said weight box and motor along therails, saiddriving means including a fixed feed screw supported parallel to the guide rails, a nut on:-saidscrew movable with the motor, and gearing connecting the motor and the nut. I

5.- In, an airship havinglongitudinal and transverse axes, a pair of guide rails parall'el'to oneaxis, amotor o reversible type supported on'saidrailsand adaptedto travel therealong, and driving meansoperated by the motor tomove thesaid motor along: the

rails, the said driving means including a fixed feed screw supportedparallel to the rails, a nut; on said screw movable with the motor, and gearing connecting the motor and nut;"in combination with a second pair of rails supported parallel to the other axis of the ship, and a second motorand associabed parts supportedv on the second pair of nails and adaptedto travel thereon.

6. In an airship havinglongitudinaland transverseaxes, a pair of guiderail'saparall'el to an axis, a motor of reversible type supported on said rails and adapted totravel therealong, a weightbox carried by the motor, and driving means operated by the motor to move the said weight box and motor along the rails, said driving means comprising a fixed feed screw supported parallel to the guide rails, a nut on the said feed screw movable with themotor, and" gearing connecting the motor'and the nut; in combination with a second pair ofrails supported parallel to the other axis-'ofthe ship,'and-a second-motor and associated parts supported on thesecond pair of guide rails and adapted to-travel thereon.

7. In an airship, apair of rails mounted uponthe airship and parallel to. an axis thereof, a reversible motor'movablysupported' on said rails, a (gear, a flxed 'feed screw between said railsan passing centrally-through said gear, a nut fixed to said gear and mounted on and movable along said screw, and a second gear fixed'to androtatablc'by said motor and in mesh with the first mentioned gear.

8. In an'airship, a pair of electrically conductive rails mounted. upon the airship, and parallel to an axis thereof, a supporting plate movable alongsaid' rails-and electricallyinsulated therefrom, areversible motor supported on said plate and electrically connected? to said rails, a ear, a fixedjfecd screw between said rails an passing centrally through said gear, a nut fixed to said-gear and mounted on and movable along said screw, and a second gear fixed to androtatable by said motor and in mesh with the first mentioned gear.

9. In an airship, a pair of electrically conductive rails mounted upon the airship and parallel to an axis thereof, asupporting plate I movable along said rails and electrically insulated therefrom, brushes in said plate and contacting said rails, a reversible motor supported on said plate and electrically connected to said brushes, a fixed feed screw parallel to said rails, a nut onsaid screw'movablewith said motor and plate, and gearing connecting the motor and nut.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature. ALFRED SCHWARZ. v 

